Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-17
IN LITTLE JAPAN.
An Underground Resort where sud
ieets Of the Min ado Congregafe.


this country it has often been remarked
that none assimilate more rapidly than
the japanese. They seem to take spe-
cial pride in adapting themselves TO
the ways and customs OF the country,
end even take pains TO adopt what
the Americans consider the vices
of the people. There are about i,o9o
of these subjects of the Mikado
in this city, nearly all OF whom are
young men and boys who have come 10
this country to get an education. Some
of them are well supplied with money
from home, and the others secure
homes and small wages as house
servants where light work only IS re-
auired. and where they can get sum
Gent liberty to pursue their studies ana
indulge in liberal amountof recreation
They have succeeded in solving the
mysts ries OF several American games
end are cCnnOisSCurs in American
drinks. il ANY one doubts that they
have become thoroughly assimilated,
let him 60 some evening to an under
ground saloon on Market street not lar
from tie new City Hall, and ne will be
convinced. The place is the favorlte
resort of the little men, and is familiar
" known amongst the white hablsues
as Little Japan" from the number OF
the dusky-skinned people who congre-
gate there nightly.
Descending a steep flight of steps
leading from the sidewalk, the visitor
TO Little Japan is ushered into large
ba,ement-rcom about one h1ndred feet
long 10y forty wide. On'the right is
bar. such as is found in any second-rate
saloon. Chairs and tables occupy the
space between the bar and row OF
iron pillars, which extends down the
centre of the room. On the further side
OF the pillars are four billiard-table
and it is about these that the young
Japanese are wont to congregate.
Pool, both ffteen-ball and pin.
are their favorite games, and
MANY of them have become
experts in both games. From 8 clock
in the evening until or 3 IN the morn
ing they have full possession OF three
of the tables, the fourth by the unwrit-
ten law of the place being claimed by
the white hoodlums who constitute the
other patrons of the resort. Two tables
are usually devoted to fifteen-ball
pool. while the third is given up to the
more scientific game of pin-pool. Any
where from half dozen to dozen
PLAYERS are participants in each Of the
three games, and they win and lose
their little stakes with as much equa-
nimity rs any white man could exhibit.
The game is ten cents for ball, twenty
cents for each game going to the house
for the use of the tables.
The japanese keep very much to
themselves, and do not often JOIN the
games of the white frequenters of the
place. Occasionally, though, one of
them, who has been a steady winner
among his countrymen and who IS
signing, like Alexander, for new worlds
to conquer, will rashly invade the white
mems game Of pin pool, or take seat
at one of the tables and join in a game
Of scent poker. Their career here,
however, is brief but glorious, and
they generallyget cleaned out in A sin
Gle evening. They take their losses
extraordinarily and so back to make
another stake among their country
men.
Occasionally some of the white
PLAYERS who have been unfortunate al
their own table will join in game al
the japanese tables under the mistaken
idea that they can make winning
there. They are usually disabused o.
this idea, however. for the japanese
ore clanish, and all combine to bea'
the Caucasian, and they are almost in
yariably successful in doing so. The
white man receives no sympathy iron
his countrymen when he returns tC
them. but is houted and jeered at. ant
usually dubbed with some japanese
nickname, which sticks to him eve
afterward.
The bar is presided over by TIVE
Young Germans, and they say that TIN
Japanese are the most profitable Gus
toners ofthat part of the establishment
They are not only prompt pay, seldom
asking to have drinks hung up on tin
slate" but they are good, stead,
drinkers. Occasionally one will asl
for a mixed drink, but as gen
eral thing they take their liquor straigh
and show a decided preference
, for plain whiskey. They are very niue
, like white men in their mode OF exhibit
, ing the effects of liquor, and sometime
. become uuarrelsome, but as a genera
thing they get good-naturedly drum
y and sing, dance, and laugh ana pla
, all manner of pranks on zach Other
> A party of them when in this state ar
: an amusing sight. They are as full c
I tricks and practical jokes as lot Q
q monkeys. and on an occasion OF hig
: festival among them the white patron
n laugh till their sides ache at their quet
antics.
When they do become quarrelsom'
however, they are vicious and WI
fight anything or anybody who oppose
r Them. On such occasions the evening
entertainment frequently wiLds up
a fight between the Mongolians an
~ the whites, in which the latter usual
Is come out victorious, as the Japs ha'
:" not the faintest idea of boxing, and al
soon beaten by their heavier and mol
Is skilful antagonists. -.
h After a little melee OF this kln'
y which is not of frequent occurrence
:. an armed neutrality is preserved I
n both sides for several days, but IL
r. white men are chary of invading tn
4 portion of the room which by commc
consent is looked upon as Japane'
Il ground. They seem to be natur
n spendthrifts, and seldom leave IL
g saloon as longas there is money enou2
d in the crowd to buy round OF drinl
70 or pay for game ofpool. Their nun
a Der is gradually increasing, and befo
az long they will be able by sheer force
+" numbers to resist the encroachments
n. the white men when, as is sometlm
1r. the case, the latter try to impose
ii them.
~ Except when much excited or vel
:; drunk they talk in English, but WHIT
- either Of the two exceptions occur th'
" iabber away in their swn peculi
y language, and the speech OF drunk
10 jap is something which must be hea
=. TO be appreciated. One man who h
- the pleasure Of hearing it compared
o TO Gumbo French run through 50
IN sage machine.
ne Lemon Elixir.